Mangaluru shut for Hindu activist's funeral

Mangaluru: Communally sensitive Mangaluru witnessed an outpouring of grief on Thursday when Bajrang Dal activist Deepak Rao was cremated amidst high drama at Surathkal in the district. Deepak was hacked to death by assailants at Mudaikodi-Katipalla on Wednesday afternoon when he was returning from the house of Majeed, owner of the shop where he was employed. 

Saffron outfits, which claim he was murdered by outfits representing the minority community, had called for a bandh at Surathkal and Katipalla on Thursday and had also decided to take the body in a procession from AJ Hospital to his house However the police took the body in an ambulance to the house which was stopped by leaders led by BJP Backward Class Morcha state secretary Sathyajit Surathkal and Bajrang Dal State Convener Sharan Pumpwell. They demanded that they wanted to take the body in a procession and demanded a compensation of '50 lakh for the family members of Deepak.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil intervened and assured family members that he would provide Rs 10 lakh compensation and also granted permission to take out a procession from Deepak’s house to the crematorium. Meanwhile, an inconsolable Abdul Majeed, Deepak’s boss, said he could not go to the crematorium as he was advised not to do so. Deepak was working for Majeed for the last seven years and used to distribute SIM cards. "It was around 1.30 pm.

He had just gone out of the house. I was inside when I heard a scream. I rushed out and saw some people escaping in a Swift car. Deepak had brutal injuries near the neck," Majeed recollects.